Dispensing closures



March 6, 1962 H. A. GUSTAFSON DISPENSING CLOSURES Filed March 16, 1.959

ATTORNEY Unite States atent Ofifice 3,623,939 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 3,023,939 DISPENSING CLOSURES Henry A. Gustafson, Boston, Mass, assignor to Clifford R. Jennings, Brockton, Mass. Filed Mar. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 799,658 6 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-536) This invention relates to new and improved dispensing closures.

Two-part or two-piece dispensing closures in which the individual parts or pieces are manufactured out of thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene are commonly being used at the present time for a wide variety of purposes. Such closures diifer from a number of prior related devices in that they are formed in such a manner that the individual parts used in them can be easily assembled together by a simple snapping type of operation. Because of this and because these individual parts or pieces may be easily and cheaply manufactured using high-speed in jection molding techniques, the use of these modern dispensing closures is advantageous commercially.

Unfortunately with modern two-part dispensing closures there is a decided problem with respect to leakage. To a large extent this problem is related to the fact that it is impossible to adequately control modern injection molding techniques so that precise reproduction of part dimensions is achieved. Because of this latter factor virtually every large group of dispensing closures of the type indicated in the preceding paragraph contains a commercially disadvantageous number of defective units.

In order to remedy the problem of leakage in these modern closures it has been proposed to use a number of different types of structures. With the various types of structures it has previously been considered necessary to exert a comparatively large amount of pressure in the area in which a seal is desired. This type of approach to the problem of leakage is disadvantageous commercially because of the fact that surfaces produced by injection molding techniques will frequently contain a minute amount of surface irregularity suflicient to prevent a satisfactory seal being formed. This type of approach to the problem of defective closures is also disadvantageous because it results in a comparatively high amount of friction tending to oppose the opening or closing of these closures. It is normally desired to have a dispensing closure which may be easily and conveniently opened or closed with a minimum or nominal amount of force.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide new and improved dispensing closures which can be manufactured on a mass production basis without any substantial or material danger of creating defective devices. A more specific object of this invention is to provide dispensing closures in which at least one of the parts is formed by known injection molding techniques out of a thermoplastic material such as polyethylene having resilient, flexible properties and in which this part is formed so as to include a resilient, flexible sealing ring. A still further object of the present invention is to provide two-part dispensing closures in which the individual parts may be easily snapped together.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this description including the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing closure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the parts of this closure;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a first part of this closure taken at line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the formation of a seal within a dispensing closure of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified dispensing closure of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 66 of FIG. 5 I

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional View, similar to FIG. 6 of a further modified dispensing closure of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 6 of a still further modified dispensing closure of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 99 of FIG. 8.

It is to be understood that the dispensing closures shown in the accompanying drawings are presently preferred embodiments or forms of this invention. However, a number of differently appearing dispensing closures may be easily manufactured utilizing the basic features or principles of this invention.

In essentially summary form it can be stated that this invention is built about the use of a flexible, resilient sealing ring in a two-part dispensing closure, the parts of which may be snapped together. In this type of dispensing closure the first part, usually, but not necessarily, a common bottle cap, is formed so as to hold a second part. This second part is rotatably mounted on the first part so that a surface of revolution on it may be brought in contact with a flexible, resilient sealing ring located on the first part. This sealing ring surrounds an opening leading through the first part and serves to maintain a seal between the first and second parts around this opening at all times.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a dispensing closure it) built in the form of a common bottle cap such as may be used with cosmetics or the like. This clo sure includes a first part 12 which consists of a top 14 and a dependent internally threaded skirt 16 which is formed integrally with the top 14. With the invention the first part 12 is formed of a somewhat resilient, flexible material, such as common polyethylene. The part 12 may be easily formed of this material by common, high speed injection molding techniques. The first part 12 may, if desired, be formed as an integral part of a container, or may be formed in a known manner so that the skirt 16 may be snapped into place or popped into place.

The shape of the top 14 is considered to be important with this invention. As it is shown it has a slot 18 located therein having a cylindrical end 20. From the bottom of this end 29 there extends an opening 22 leading through the top 14 into the interior of the skirt 16. Around this opening 22 there is formed an O-ring type of sealing ring 24- which is spaced from the opening 22. This sealing ring 24 has a uniform cross-sectional configuration and a rounded upper edge which in cross section has the external shape of half of a circle. The edge of the ring 24 remote from this end 20 is located in the locus of a cylinder having the same axis as the axis of the cylindrical end 20. Thus, the ring 24 extends in a surface of revolution, having an axis of curvature coinciding-with the axis of the end 20.

At the sides of the end 20 of the slot 18 there are located within the top 14 aligned cylindrical bearing openings 26, each of which has a slot 28 extending along its entire length. This construction is provided so that a second part 30 employed with the invention may be snapped into place on the first part 12 so as to be capable of rotation with respect to the first part. This second part 33 is preferably formed of a material such as common polyethylene as indicated above because such a material is capable of deforming slightly in forming a seal; how'- ever, it may be formed of other more rigid materials. The second part 30 includes aligned axles 32 which can speasse be located within the bearing openings 26 by being pushed through the slots 28. As this is done the portions of the top 14 defining the bearing openings 26 are, of course, temporarily deformed for a short period.

Between the axles 32 there is located a center member forming a part of this second part 30. This center member 34 has a cylindrical surface 36 which normally fits against the sealing ring 24 so as to deform this ring as indicated later in this specification, to form a seal around the opening 22 at all times. A passage 38 is located in the center member 34 so as to extend from the cylindrical surface 36 out through a spout 40 formed as a part of the center member 34.

With this construction the spout 4i) normally extends within the slot 18 when the closure 10 is in a closed position. When it is desired to open this closure the spout 40 may be easily rotated with a nominal minimum amount of pressure until a portion of the center member 34- hits against the top 14. At this point the passage 38 and the opening 22 are aligned with one another. The closure 10 is, of course, closed by reversing the rotation of the spout 40.

When the second part 30 is snapped into position as indicated in the preceding discussion the cylindrical surface 36 of the center member 34 is held through the use of the axles 32 so as to bear against the sealing ring 24 so as to deform this sealing ring as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing from its initial configuration indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. When a seal is formed in this manner the sealing ring 24 bears against the surface 36 with a uniform amount of pressure at all points along its length or circumference. The force exerted against the sealing ring 24 causes the cylindrical end 20 to deform so as to create other secondary sealing rings 42 (FIG. 4) which are parallel to the ring 24 and are substantially equally spaced from it. These other rings 42 alsobear against the surface 36 so as to form a seal therewith. Thus, with this type of construction in essence a triple seal is formed through the use of one sealing ring.

Since these three sealing rings contact the surface 36 with essentially a line contact very little frictional force which would impede rotation of the second part 30, is developed by these sealing means employed with the invention. In order to achieve the results of this invention the axis of the surface 36 should be coincident with the axis of the end 20 which, in turn, is the same as the axis of. the space occupied by the ring 24 in its undeformed configuration. Further, the radius of the surface 36 should be less than the radius of the end 20 but should be greater than the radius of the cylinder around which the ring 24 is disposed as previously described.

This same type of sealing action may be achieved in a number of other different closure structures. As an example of this there is shown in FIG. a dispensing closure 50 built in the form of a common bottle cap. The closure 50 includes a first part 52 which consists of a top 54 attached to an internally threaded dependent skirt 56. The part 52 is formed of a material of the type used in forming the part 12 previously described; if desired, it may be formed as an integral part of the container or may be formed in a known manner so as to be capable of being snapped or popped into place on a container.

With the closure 50 the top 54 is formed so as to have a slot 58 located therein. This slot terminates in a cylindrical end 60 at the sides of which there are located opposed generally conical shaped trunnions 62 having rounded ends or points. These trunnions 62 having rounded ends are symmetrically located. with respect to the axis of the end 60 and are aligned with this axis. From the bottom of the end 60 an opening 64 extends through the top 54- into the interior of the skirt 56; around this opening 64 there is formed an O-ring type of sealing ring 66 similar to the ring 24 previously described.

With this structure a second part 68 which may be formed of similar material to those used in forming the part 30 previously described may be snapped into place within the end 60 so that aligned bearing openings 70 corresponding in shape to the trunnions 62 fit over these trunnions in order to rotatably mount the second part 68 in such a. manner that a cylindrical surface 72 on a center member 74 forming a part of it fits against the ring 66 in the manner indicated in the preceding discussion so as to form a multiple seal around the opening 64.

It is possible to use a number of other difierent modified types of trunnions with the dispensing closure of this invention. In FIG. 7 of the drawing there is shown a further modified dispensing closure of this invention which is substantially identical with the closure 50 except as herein described. For this reason various parts of the closure 80 which are the same as parts of the closure 50 are designated by the primes of the numerals previously employed. The closure 80 contains semi-spherical trunions 82 which are located in the same position within the closure 80 as the trunnions 62 are located within the closure 50. These trunnions 82 are adapted to fit within correspondingly shaped bearing openings 84 in a second part 68 in order to hold this second part so that a seal as previously described is formed between it and the sealing ring 66 around the opening 64' at all times.

In FIG. 8 of the drawing there is shown a further modified dispensing closure which is substantially identical to the closure 50 except as hereinafter indicated. For convenience various parts of the closure 90 which are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the closure 50 are identified by the double primes of the numerals previously used. The closure Q0 includes a ring-like trunnion 92 in the form of a circular ridge having the same cross-sectional configuration as the trunnion 62" located symmetrically about the trunnion 62". It also includes a corresponding ring-like bearing recess 94 located around the bearing recess 70". This type of construction is advantageous in obtaining a maximum amount of sealing pressure serving to form a seal around the opening 64" in the first part 52".

With all the dispensing closures herein described a very eflicient sealing action is obtained with a minimum of difiiculty. This sealing action is the result of the second or rotatable part of the closure as herein defined being mounted in a substantially rigid manner so as to deform a sealing ring as herein indicated. Further, with these closures the second or rotatable part is held in a balanced manner so that an equal amount of force is applied to the mutually contacting portions of closure where a seal is formed. This will be realized from a detailed consideration of the parallel surfaces of revolution on the parts as previously described. Because of the nature of this invention, it is to be considered as being limited only by the appended claims forming a part of this description.

I claim:

1. A two-part dispensing closure which comprises: a first part formed of a flexible, resilient material so as to have a top, an opening leading through said first part from said top, and a resilient, flexible sealing ring having a curved cross-sectional configuration located around said opening, said sealing ring being located in a surface of revolution, the top of said ring lying in a surface of revolution concentric with the surface in which it is located; a second part rotatably mounted on said first part, said second part having a surface of revolution formed thereon, said second part being mounted so that the axis of said last-mentioned surface of revolution is co-incident with the axis of said surface of revolution within which said sealing ring is located, said surface of revolution 011 said second part engaging said sealing rings so as to deform said sealing ring and said top so as to form a seal around said opening between said top and said second part, said second part including a passage extending therethrough from said surface of revolution thereon, said passage being adapted to be aligned with said opening during rotation of said second part,

2. A two-part dispensing closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said first part is formed so as to include means for rotatably supporting said second part, and wherein said second part is rotatably held by said means, and wherein said means are capable of temporary deformation so as to allow said second part to be snapped into place on said first part.

3. A two-part dispensing closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means comprises bearing openings located on opposite sides of said opening, and wherein said second part includes axles located within said bearing openll'lgS.

4. A two-part dispensing closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means comprises aligned trunnions upon said first part and wherein said second part includes bearing means receiving said trunnions.

5. A two-part dispensing closure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means comprises aligned trunnions and circular ridges concentric with said trunnions upon said first part, and wherein said second part includes bearing recesses receiving said trunnions and said ridges.

6. A two-part dispensing closure which includes: first and second parts, at least said first part being formed of a flexible, resilient material, said second part being rotatably mounted on said first part so as to be capable of being rotated about an axis, said second part having a cylindrical surface which is co-axial with said axis, said second part also having a passage extending therethrough from said cylindrical surface, said first part having a cylindrical surface located adjacent to and spaced from said cylindrical surface of said second part, said cylindrical surfaces being co-axial, said first part having an opening leading therethrough from the cylindrical surface thereof, said first part also having a sealing ring which, prior to the location of said second part with respect to said first part, is of uniform cross-sectional configuration and corresponds in cross-sectional configuration to the shape of one-half of a circle, the top of said sealing ring lying in a surface of revolution concentric with said cylindrical surface of said first part, said sealing ring being located on said cylindrical surface of said first part so as to extend around said opening, said sealing ring being engaged by said cylindrical surface of said second part so as to be deformed thereby and so as to form a seal therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,726 Mart Sept. 13, 1955 2,793,795 Wilson et a1 May 28, 1957 2,828,895 Mart Apr. 1, 1958 2,883,091 Barravecchia Apr. 21, 1959 2,950,033 Henchert Aug. 23, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,023,939 March 6, 1962 Henry A. Gustafson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqliring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 69, for "rings" read ring Signed and sealed this 18th day of May 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J BRENNER AIM-sting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

